Comprehensive contemporary manual of earth building.
Gernot Minke Building with Earth Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture
Written in response to an increasing world- wide interest in building with earth, this handbook deals with earth as a building material, and provides a survey of all of its applications and construction techniques, including the relevant physical data, while explaining its specific qualities and the pos- sibilities of optimising them. No theoretical treatise, however, can substitute for practical experience involving actually building with earth. The data and experiences and the specific realisations of earth construction contained in this volume may be used as guidelines for a variety of construction processes and possible applications by engi- neers, architects, entrepreneurs, craftsmen and public policy-makers who find them- selves attempting, either from desire or necessity, to come to terms with humanity's oldest building material.
Notes
One of the most complete and up to date (2010) handbooks around this subject available.
This volume is loosely based on the German
publication Das neue Lehmbau-Handbuch
(Publisher: Ökobuch Verlag, Staufen), first
published in 1994 and now in its sixth
edition. Of this publication a Spanish and
a Russian edition have also appeared.
While this is first and foremost a technical
book, the introductory chapter also provides
the reader with a short survey on the history
of earth architecture. In addition it describes
the historical and future roles of earth as a
building material, and lists all of the signifi-
cant characteristics that distinguish earth
from common industrialised building materi-
als. A major recent discovery, that earth can
be used to balance indoor climate, is
explained in greater detail.
The book's final chapter deserves special
mention insofar as it depicts a number of
representative earth buildings from various
regions of the world. These constructions
demonstrate the impressive versatility of
earth architecture and the many different
uses of the building material earth.
Kassel, February 2006
Gernot Minke
Reviewer:brinerustle
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May 19, 2013 Subject:
What an amazing book!
It's rare when you find that the most authoritative, beautiful, well-written book on a particular subject is ALSO a creative commons free ebook available for download! Can't recommend this book enough for someone interested in building using local and sustainable materials.
Reviewer:petergozz
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August 3, 2010 Subject:
Complete
This is one of the most complete handbooks on Earth Building readily available. The subject is covered from the chemistry of clays right, through testing soils for engineering suitability , to designing multistory dwellings.
Its accessible style and obvious practical background make it extremely useful for the home builder, government officer or Aid Project Manager.